The importance of environmental utilities in the beekeeping activity and the socioeconomic and sociocultural utilities

Abstract

Few companies offer such a wide range of goods and services as honey bees and beekeeping, products that are mostly intangible and therefore complex to value. This diversity and its contribution to the generation of positive externalities bring together environmental, economic and social interests that make beekeeping an indispensable part of the bioeconomy. However, despite its uniqueness, it often goes unnoticed or is not sufficiently recognized. In a context of diversification of opportunities and the appearance of new actors in the sector, the objective of this paper is to identify and analyze the set of utilities —goods and services— generated by the honey bee-beekeeper binomial, as well as to analyze the existing relationships between them. Finally, future lines of research will be proposed.